What To Do When a Client Triggers Your Imposter Syndrome

It usually happens fast. A client says something you were not expecting, or brings up a presentation you have not worked with much, and suddenly the voice shows up. You do not know what you are doing. You are going to be found out.

The moment doubt creeps in mid-session

That moment is usually a sign that you care about doing this well, and that the work in front of you is genuinely uncertain. Uncertainty is built into clinical work. It does not go away as you get more experienced, it just becomes more familiar.

What is actually happening when this happens

In the moment, the instinct is often to pretend you’re confident rather than acknowledge not knowing, which can pull you out of the room and into your own head, managing how you appear rather than staying present with the client. Naming the uncertainty to yourself, even silently, can actually bring you back into the work rather than away from it.

How to bring it to supervision instead of carrying it alone

The cases that trigger the most self doubt are usually the most valuable ones to bring to supervision, not the ones to quietly file away as evidence that you are not cut out for this. A good supervisor will help you separate what was actually clinically appropriate from what your imposter syndrome is telling you about yourself. If a particular client or case has been sitting heavy with you, that is worth bringing into the room. We would love to talk it through with you.

In the meantime, I love the advice that Jameel Jamil gave in her podcast, it perfectly aligns with my ACT approach and values work to imposter syndrome. Check out the post here https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR7G6-ODgQ6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  If you’re ready to book a supervision consultation click here.